Method and system for identifying a scanned image

Abstract

A method of identifying a scanned image includes creating an original image with a plurality of halftone resolutions. The original image is then scanned at a scanning resolution to create the scanned image. When the scanning resolution is related to at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image, a stamp is generated in the scanned image.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of identifying a scanned image, the method comprising: 
 creating an original image with a plurality of halftone resolutions;    scanning the original image at a scanning resolution to create the scanned image; and    generating a stamp in the scanned image when the scanning resolution is related to at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the original image includes scaling the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image throughout the original image.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the original image includes varying the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image from approximately 75 halftones-per-inch to approximately 600 halftones-per-inch throughout the original image.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scanning resolution is related to the at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image when the scanning resolution matches the at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the stamp in the scanned image includes distinguishing the scanned image from the original image.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the stamp in the scanned image includes making the stamp visible in the scanned image.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the stamp in the scanned image includes generating at least one of a word, symbol, character, mark, design, seal, pattern, distortion of the original image, and image artifact in the scanned image.  
     
     
         8 . A system for identifying a scanned image, the system comprising: 
 an original image having a plurality of halftone resolutions; and    an optical scanner having a scanning resolution that is related to at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image,    wherein the optical scanner is adapted to scan the original image and generate a stamp in the scanned image when the scanning resolution of the optical scanner is related to the at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image are scaled throughout the original image.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image are varied from approximately 75 halftones-per-inch to approximately 600 halftones-per-inch throughout the original image.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the scanning resolution of the optical scanner is related to the at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image when the scanning resolution of the optical scanner matches at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stamp distinguishes the scanned image from the original image.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stamp is made visible in the scanned image when the scanning resolution of the optical scanner is related to the at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stamp includes at least one of a word, symbol, character, mark, design, seal, pattern, distortion of the original image, and image artifact in the scanned image.  
     
     
         15 . A method of creating a halftone image, the method comprising: 
 producing a first image portion of the halftone image with a first halftone resolution; and    producing at least a second image portion of the halftone image with at least a second halftone resolution, including varying the at least second halftone resolution of the at least second image portion from the first halftone resolution of the first image portion.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein producing the at least second image portion of the halftone image with the at least second halftone resolution includes producing a plurality of image portions of the halftone image with a plurality of halftone resolutions, and wherein varying the at least second halftone resolution of the at least second image portion from the halftone resolution of the first image portion includes varying the plurality of the halftone resolution of the plurality of image portions throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein varying the plurality of halftone resolutions throughout the halftone image includes scaling the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of image portions throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein varying the plurality of halftone resolutions throughout the halftone image includes varying the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of image portions from approximately 75 halftones-per-inch to approximately 600 halftones-per-inch throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein varying the plurality of halftone resolutions throughout the halftone image includes varying the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of image portions at least one of vertically and horizontally.  
     
     
         20 . A halftone image, comprising: 
 a first image portion having a first halftone resolution; and    at least a second image portion having at least a second halftone resolution, wherein the at least second halftone resolution of the at least second image portion varies from the first halftone resolution of the first image portion.    
     
     
         21 . The halftone image of  claim 20 , wherein the at least second image portion includes a plurality of image portions with a plurality of halftone resolutions.  
     
     
         22 . The halftone image of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of halftone image portions are scaled throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         23 . The halftone image of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of halftone image portions are varied from approximately 75 halftones-per-inch to approximately 600 halftones-per-inch throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         24 . The halftone image of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of image portions are varied at least one of vertically and horizontally throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         25 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of identifying a scanned image, the method comprising: 
 creating an original image with a plurality of halftone resolutions;    scanning the original image at a scanning resolution to create the scanned image; and    generating a stamp in the scanned image when the scanning resolution is related to at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image.    
     
     
         26 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein creating the original image includes scaling the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image throughout the original image.  
     
     
         27 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein creating the original image includes varying the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image from approximately 75 halftones-per-inch to approximately 600 halftones-per-inch throughout the original image.  
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein the scanning resolution is related to the at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image when the scanning resolution matches the at least one of the plurality of halftone resolutions of the original image.  
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein generating the stamp in the scanned image includes distinguishing the scanned image from the original image.  
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein generating the stamp in the scanned image includes making the stamp visible in the scanned image.  
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein generating the stamp in the scanned image includes generating at least one of a word, symbol, character, mark, design, seal, pattern, distortion of the original image, and image artifact in the scanned image.  
     
     
         32 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of creating a halftone image, the method comprising: 
 producing a first image portion of the halftone image with a first halftone resolution; and    producing at least a second image portion of the halftone image with at least a second halftone resolution, including varying the at least second halftone resolution of the at least second image portion from the first halftone resolution of the first image portion.    
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein producing the at least second image portion of the halftone image with the at least second halftone resolution includes producing a plurality of image portions of the halftone image with a plurality of halftone resolutions, and wherein varying the at least second halftone resolution of the at least second image portion from the halftone resolution of the first image portion includes varying the plurality of the halftone resolution of the plurality of image portions throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 33 , wherein varying the plurality of halftone resolutions throughout the halftone image includes scaling the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of image portions throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 33 , wherein varying the plurality of halftone resolutions throughout the halftone image includes varying the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of image portions from approximately 75 halftones-per-inch to approximately 600 halftones-per-inch throughout the halftone image.  
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 33 , wherein varying the plurality of halftone resolutions throughout the halftone image includes varying the plurality of halftone resolutions of the plurality of image portions at least one of vertically and horizontally.